The Hangman's Theater – Flossie

EPISODE 8 of 12 – Sleight of Hand

The Hangman’s Theater isn’t known for hosting magician acts but tonight is very different. Not only will Jan be performing with her other “male” team, but they’ve devised a plan that will get them one step closer to retrieving the item stolen from Felix’s flat.

TOLD FROM THE POV OF FLOSSIE

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The horse whinnied as it was reigned in at a cross street to let three gentlemen and a lady cross. One of the gentlemen tipped their hat at the coachman to thank him for stopping short. Once they reached the other side of the street the horse and coach it pulled continued on its way.

“See, we fooled him completely,” Flossie said, clearing her throat once more to try and make it sound deeper, like a man.

“A coachman high up in his seat is hardly a magic trick one has to perfect in the art of disguise. This will hardly work when face-to-face with the enemy,” Felix retorted. Of the four of them, he fussed the most. He had no experience wearing a girdle and heeled shoes and it showed as he attempted to scratch an itch in his back. A most unladylike maneuver. 

Jan took his arm and whispered in his ear, “Calm yourself, Felix or your wig will come right off.” A pair of women deep in their own world of conversation on the other side of the street stopped and stared for a moment at the four of them. Instinctively, Charisma, Flossie and Jan tipped their hat at the ladies as they giggled to each other and kept walking, this time at a faster pace.

“I wonder what they must think of us,” Charisma said. “What exactly are we planning on doing? I feel rather exposed out here in the middle of the day.”

“If we’re to uncover anything about what happened to that unfortunate gentleman who died on your doorstep then we must go where he’s gone and speak to whomever he may have come into contact with. And with the king’s guardsmen out looking for him and likely looking for you as well, we need to make sure this disguise is at least passible for the time being.”

Felix pried his arm away from Jan. “If you are suggesting what I think you’re suggesting then count me out. I can find the journal on my own and I don’t need this get up to do it,” he said, pushing up his bosom that was sagging a bit along with his dress that was having a hard time staying on his shoulders. It was meant for a much bustier woman.

“We’ve already been to a hall. Where else do we need to search?” Charisma asked.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Jan said.

Flossie’s eyes widened. “You think he’s been to the colosseum? But it’s not open to the public yet.”

“Not the colosseum, but one step below that. What if he came here to confront a magician with the deck and got sent packing. Like—”

“No! Absolutely not. It’s impossible to go to every single theater hoping someone will tell us if they’ve seen him. And I refuse to take another step in these shoes. They are wreaking havoc on my feet,” Felix said, eyeing the shoes of the three ladies with him, enviously.

“I wasn’t suggesting we hoof it to every theater. I agree with you, Felix. There are far too many and not enough time to waste. But we already have a place to start, the Great Davoren. You mentioned he was withholding information? Well, he’s not likely to divulge it to you but what about for a wager?”

Jan knew the Great Davoren couldn’t turn down a wager. In fact, everyone knew that. Including Felix who rolled his eyes and folded his arms in defiance.

“He’d never go for it. Besides, what exactly do you propose to bet against a man like him? He’s no fool.”

“We shall see. Do you trust me, Charisma? If this works it will give us answers, but if it doesn’t, you might suffer the most out of all of us simply for what you now hold in your possession,” Jan said.

“I trust you, Jan. Of course I do. This is the most fun I’ve had in years outside of my home. What do you propose we do?”

Jan looked at her pocket watch to make note of the time. “Meet me in front of Hangman’s Theater this evening at six o’clock. Oh, and make sure you come dressed like this. All of you,” she said, eyeing Felix.

“You expect me to be seen in this thing again later tonight, and at Hangman’s Theater no less. Are you mad?”

“Do you want your precious journal back? Or answers to your questions? If so, then do this and I promise, the dress, the heels, the wig, will have all been worth it,” Jan said, with a smirk.

“Thank you, Felix,” Charisma said, putting her hand on his shoulder just as an older man pushing a cart down the street filled with different fruits. He stopped for a moment beside them and pulled his cap off, using it to wipe the sweat from his brow. He eyed them suspiciously before putting his cap back on and continuing to push his cart. He was headed closer to the colosseum to catch the end of day crowds on their way home from a long days work. Charisma recognized him as the man she often buys her fruit from and wondered if he noticed her as well.

“Six o’clock,” Jan repeated as she jogged across the street and turned a corner out of sight before Felix could continue his protestations.

“Are we to walk home now?” Felix asked.

“No, Felix. I believe you’ve suffered enough,” Charisma said, holding her hand out to signal a coach for them. Women never signal for a coach, it is always a man, but as she was dressed for the part it was surprisingly simple to do. Even Flossie was impressed and said as much upon entering the coach. Charisma hopped in last after letting Felix in ahead of her, unlike Flossie who forgot her gentlemanly manners and pushed her way in first. She tapped the roof of the coach to signal it was safe to depart and they made their way home, two gentleman and a rather elderly lady.

***

As requested, but by much fuss from Felix, they arrived as dressed that morning at the Hangman’s Theater.

“Wait,” Felix said, grabbing Charisma’s arm before she opened the coach door. “Who is that with Jan? Isn’t that…yes, it is…,” he said, fanning out and raising a pair of lorgnette eyeglasses to see better.

“Nevermind them, what exactly are those?” Flossie asked him. Charisma stifled a giggle as best she could.

“At least I’m trying to look the part,” Felix huffed right back at Flossie.

“He is right, Fliss. It’s Garreth. What is he doing talking with Jan? Should we leave?” Charisma asked far too late, for Jan had already seen the carriage lingering and surmised it was her friends who she asked to meet her in front of the Hangman’s Theater where she had waited.

Jan rapped on the window and Charisma pulled back the curtain slowly. In her present attire she was as much a man as any other gentleman. And if she needed to pass as one in front of strangers she was certain of passing the test without a problem. But she had met Garreth before, and in close proximity to each other. She had doubts that he would not recognize her disguise straight away.

“Here is my team, as you can see. You can assure the king that I am more than ready to help,” Jan said, turning her head away from Garreth so that only the occupants of the carriage could see it and she winked. 

Garreth lowered his head to look inside the dark carriage at those seated within. He eyed Charisma curiously and she blushed slightly at his gaze before averting her eyes back to Jan. He slowly surveyed Felix and raised an eyebrow in his direction. “Who is she supposed to be? Your stage assistant?” His tone was clearly one of sarcasm and Felix was ready to defend himself, though from what he was not completely sure.

“I assure you, my cousin…Tamsin,” she said, pausing long enough to find a name she felt fit Felix’s look, “is the best in the business.”

Garreth reached in the breast pocket of his uniform and handed Jan an all too familiar black envelope. “Do not disappoint the king. Or on your head be it.” His last words before departing inside the Hangman’s Theater.

“Is that what I think it is?” Felix asked, awkwardly stepping out of the carriage. He pulled his arms away from Jan and Charisma who tried to help steady him in his two inch heels with little success. “Unhand me, you two. I can walk just fine on my own. I’ve been practicing.”

Flossie eyed him curiously and whispered under her breath, “I’ll bet you have.”

“Quickly, let’s get inside and I’ll explain everything,” Jan said, ushering them through the main entrance of the Hangman’s Theater. She held up the black envelope as they passed by the guard at the door. 

The theater was empty, just workers taking down chairs from round tables and laying out cutlery for the evening’s performances. They walked towards the stage in quick procession till they arrived backstage. It was much more crowded with magician acts moving about, preparing for the evening. 

They arrived at a door and Jan opened it and ferried them inside before closing it behind her. “Why did he hand you an invitation?”

Flossie inhaled loudly. “You don’t mean—”

“No, he doesn’t. That’s not what this is. You’ve indeed been out of the business for a long time, haven’t you. The king gives out black letters to small acts now. It’s his way of spreading the wealth of the colosseum to the lower class magicians. This way it’s all very fare. Except, those with black invitations have to perform in theaters to earn a spot to perform at the colosseum.”

“And you got a black invitation to perform? Tonight?” Charisma asked. She removed her hat which, until now, had been concealing her long hair that was held in place by pins in a braid.

“Exactly, so don’t get too comfortable, because you’re helping me,” Jan said.

“I knew it. You’ve gone stark raving mad. Why would we want to expose ourselves on stage? We need to remain in the shadows, not out in public for all the world to see what we’re up to,” Felix said. He wanted terribly to take off his shoes as they were beginning to hurt his feet from the hours he had already spent walked back and forth across his living room floor in them for practice. Instead, he sat on an old musty couch that probably hadn’t been cleaned for years. The smell reminded him of his younger years, playing in theaters not unlike the Hangman, for barely any money, in the hopes the Lyfords would one day receive a highly coveted invitation from the king.

“Do you really think I would risk this if it wasn’t for a good reason? I have it on good authority that the judge of tonight’s show is the Great Davoren. And if he’s like I remember him, anything of value he has will most assuredly be on him.”

“Lunacy. Sheer lunacy. You expect us to perform on stage and pick his pockets? I suppose you have some master scheme to do all this to a magician?” Felix said sarcastically. Everyone in that room knew a magician was the hardest mark for any thief, even the most acclaimed.

Jan smiled mischievously. It’s why you’re here, Felix. The denouement will be The Vanishing Woman.”

Felix was about to protest again but stopped himself. Then he gave the same grin that she had just a moment ago.

“Look at them, Charisma. Both smiling like Cheshire cats. What are we missing?”

“Perhaps our friend, Jan, isn’t as crazy as I thought. The Vanishing Lady is Davoren’s main performance piece. He frames his entire show around it. Even I know that. And like any good magician he’ll want to make sure his secret for how it’s done isn’t the same as his own. He’ll want to go backstage and confirm for himself.” Felix started to laugh in a most sinister way. “Oh, that is rich. But you forget one thing. How exactly do we get the journal off him?”

“Felix, you forget you are in the company of the owner of Maranigan’s Shop. Maranigan knows everything. It is our stock in trade. When all else fails, the secrets we keep will keep our legacy afloat. You were a master thief in your day, were you not? I suspect you still know a thing or two. And if you can convince him that you are who you pretend to be, then I think you can easily get close enough to do what must be done. But you only have one shot to do it. We all do. There’s no telling how many of the king’s guardsmen will also be in attendance. One wrong move and we’ll all be in trouble.”

“That still leaves one question unanswered,” Charisma said, raising her hand to call their attention to her. “Why would the king give you an invitation on such short notice? Doesn’t he give those out well in advance so that magicians have a chance to prepare?”

“Let’s just say I called in a favor with the king,” Jan replied, “so let’s not muck it up.”